Spacer, fixing structure and heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

A spacer includes a plane portion and at least one positioning portion. The plane portion is interposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another. Each of the two pipe arrays is formed by arranging at least one pipe along a plane which crosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays. The at least one positioning portion positions the at least one pipe in at least one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2009-151220 filed Jun. 25, 2009 in the Japan Patent Office, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a technique of stacking a plurality ofpipe arrays including at least one pipe arranged along a predeterminedplane.

For example, in a heat exchanger disclosed in Unexamined Japanese PatentPublication No. 2008-151473, a plurality of pipe arrays including aplurality of pipes arranged along a predetermined plane are stacked.Intervals between the adjacent two pipe arrays are controlled using acontrol member made of a wire rod.

SUMMARY

Since the above-described control member is a wire rod, the intervalsbetween the pipe arrays can be maintained but intervals between orpositions of the respective pipes in the pipe arrays cannot be properlymaintained.

In one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that not onlythe intervals between stacked plurality of pipe arrays but a position ofat least one pipe in each of the plurality of pipe arrays can beproperly maintained.

A first aspect of the invention provides a spacer including a planeportion and at least one positioning portion. The plane portion isinterposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another. Each of the twopipe arrays is formed by arranging at least one pipe along a plane whichcrosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays. The at least onepositioning portion positions the at least one pipe in at least one ofthe two pipe arrays on the plane portion.

In the spacer constituted as such, when the plane portion is arrangedbetween the two pipe arrays, the at least one pipe in the at least oneof the two pipe arrays can be positioned on the plane portion.Therefore, not only the intervals between the stacked two pipe arraysbut also the position of the at least one pipe in the at least one ofthe two pipe arrays can be properly maintained.

The at least one positioning portion may be formed in any manner inorder to position the at least one pipe in the at least one of the twopipe arrays on the plane portion.

The at least one positioning portion may be formed, for example, toprotrude from the plane portion in at least one of two spots sandwichingan axis line of the at least one pipe.

In this case, the intervals between the two pipe arrays can bemaintained with the spacer interposed between the two pipe arrays. Also,the position of the at least one pipe in the at least one of the twopipe arrays can be properly maintained by the at least one positioningportion protruding from the plane portion of the spacer.

The at least one positioning portion as above may be formed in anymanner. For example, the at least one positioning portion may be formedas a member attached to the plane portion, a member formed by cuttingand raising the plane portion, or a member integrally formed with theplane portion.

More particularly, the at least one positioning portion may be formed bydenting the plane portion from one surface of the plane portion towardthe other surface in the at least one spot.

In this case, the at least one positioning portion can be formed by easyprocessing such as denting the plane portion. The spacer can be easilyformed from a mere plate-like member.

In the at least one positioning portion formed by denting the planeportion, a through hole may be formed which penetrates the at least onepositioning portion.

In this case, fluid such as ambient air and moisture flow through thethrough hole. Thus, retention of the fluid can be restricted.

In case that such through hole is formed, the plane portion may bearranged between the two pipe arrays such that the at least onepositioning portion protrudes in a direction of gravity.

This allows positioning of the at least one pipe which is located belowthe spacer. Moreover, it becomes easy for moisture inside the at leastone positioning portion to be discharged downward from the through hole.

At least part of an end portion of the spacer extending along the planeportion may be bent. This allows improvement in bending strength of thespacer.

There is no specific limitation in which direction to bend the at leastpart of the end portion of the spacer. For example, the at least part ofthe end portion of the spacer may be bent in the same direction as oropposite direction to the direction in which the at least onepositioning portion protrudes.

A second aspect of the invention provides a fixing structure includingat least one spacer and a clamping portion. The at least one spacerincludes a plane portion and at least one positioning portion. The planeportion is interposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another. Eachof the two pipe arrays is formed by arranging at least one pipe along aplane which crosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays. The atleast one positioning portion positions the at least one pipe in atleast one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion. The clampingportion clamps the at least one spacer together with a pipe group. Thepipe group includes at least the two pipe arrays.

According to the fixing structure as such, the at least one spacer canmaintain the intervals between the two pipe arrays, and also fixes thepipe group while properly maintaining the position of the at least onepipe in the at least one of the two pipe arrays.

The at least one positioning portion may be formed in any manner inorder to position the at least one pipe in the at least one of the twopipe arrays on the plane portion. The at least one positioning portionmay be formed, for example, to protrude from the plane portion in atleast one of two spots sandwiching an axis line of the at least onepipe.

In this case, the intervals between the two pipe arrays can bemaintained with the spacer interposed between the two pipe arrays. Also,the position of the at least one pipe in the at least one of the twopipe arrays can be properly maintained by the at least one positioningportion protruding from the plane portion of the spacer.

The plane portion may include at least one through hole which penetratesat least one of the plane portion and the at least one positioningportion, in a position off the at least one pipe positioned on the planeportion by the at least one positioning portion.

In this case, the clamping portion may include a pair of clampingmembers and at least one connecting member. Between the pair of clampingmembers, the at least one spacer is arranged together with the pipegroup. The at least one connecting member interconnects the pair ofclamping members through the at least one through hole.

In the fixing structure as such, the spacer is interposed between thetwo pipe arrays, the pipe group is arranged between the pair ofclamping, members, and the pair of clamping members are connected toeach other by the at least one connecting member through the at leastone through hole. Thereby, the pipe group can be fixed.

The spacer in the fixing structure according to the second aspect may beconstituted in the same manner as the spacer according to the firstaspect.

A third aspect of the invention provides a heat exchanger including apipe group and at least one spacer. The pipe group is formed by at leasttwo pipe arrays stacked one another. Each of the at least two pipearrays is formed by arranging at least one heat-transfer pipe along aplane which crosses a stacking direction of the at least two pipearrays. The at least one spacer includes a plane portion and at leastone positioning portion. The plane portion is arranged between two pipearrays in the at least two pipe arrays. At least one positioning portionpositions the at least one heat-transfer pipe in at least one of the twopipe arrays on the plane portion.

The at least one positioning portion may be formed in any manner inorder to position the at least one heat-transfer pipe in the at leastone of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion. The at least onepositioning portion may be formed, for example, to protrude from theplane portion in at least one of two spots sandwiching an axis line ofthe at least one heat-transfer pipe.

The heat exchanger as such may further include a clamping portion thatclamps the at least one spacer together with the pipe group.

The plane portion may include at least one through hole which penetratesat least one of the plane portion and the at least one positioningportion, in a position off the at least one heat-transfer pipepositioned on the plane portion by the at least one positioning portion.

In this case, the clamping portion may include a pair of clampingmembers and at least one connecting member. Between the pair of clampingmembers, the at least one spacer is arranged together with the pipegroup. The at least one connecting member interconnects the pair ofclamping members through the at least one through hole.

In the heat exchanger constituted as such, the same operation and effectas the spacer of the first aspect or the fixing structure of the secondaspect can be obtained.

The at least one heat-transfer pipe may be shaped so as to surround apredetermined space.

The at least one heat-transfer pipe may be arranged to form a space forair passage around the at least one heat-transfer pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described hereinafter by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of appearance of a heat exchanger accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger;

FIG. 3A is a bottom view of a spacer;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the spacer;

FIG. 4A is a front view of one longitudinal end side of the heatexchanger seen from a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 1, thefront view being rotated 90° counterclockwise;

FIG. 4B is a top view of the one longitudinal end side of the heatexchanger seen from a direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4C is a side view of the one longitudinal end side of the heatexchanger seen from a direction indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4D is a bottom view of the one longitudinal end side of the heatexchanger seen from a direction indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) Overall Constitution of Heat Exchanger

Referring to FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 1 includes a plurality ofheat-transfer pipes (hereinafter, simply referred to as “pipes”) 2. Eachof these pipes 2 is shaped so as to surround a predetermined space, andspaced out from each other so that a space for air passage is formedaround each of these pipes 2.

More particularly, in the present embodiment, these pipes 2 are arrangedin parallel to each other and shaped so as to helically surround arectangular parallelepiped. With the plurality of pipes 2 arranged andshaped as such, a pipe group constituted from a plurality of pipe arraysstacked in an up and down direction in the figure is formed around thespace. The plurality of pipe arrays are constituted from the pluralityof pipes 2 arranged along a plurality of planes which cross the stackingdirection of the pipe arrays.

As shown in FIG. 2, on both longitudinal end sides of the pipe group,spacers 3 are interposed between the respective adjacent pipe arrays.The spacers 3 maintain intervals between the adjacent pipe arrays andintervals between the pipes 2 in the respective pipe arrays.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each of the spacers 3 includes a planeportion 33 and a plurality of positioning portions 31 which protrudefrom the plane portion 33.

The spacer 3 is a plate-like member shaped into a triangular plane,which includes a bent portion 35 and a convex portion 37. The bentportion 35 is formed by bending a section extending from one side of themember. The convex portion 37 is formed along two sides other than theone side forming the bent portion 35. In the present embodiment, theconvex portion 37 protrudes from one surface of the spacer 3 facingupward (hereinafter, referred to as a “first surface”) in a state thatthe spacer 3 is interposed between the pipe arrays, and the bent portion35 is bent toward the other surface facing downward (hereinafter,referred to as a “second surface”).

The positioning portions 31 position the respective pipes 2 locatedalong the second surface of the spacer 3 interposed between the pipearrays. More particularly, each of the positioning portions 31 protrudesin a direction away from the second surface in one of two spotssandwiching an axis line of each of the pipes 2, thereby to positioneach of the pipes 2 (see FIGS. 4A to 4D).

Also, these positioning portions 31 respectively protrude in thedirection of the pipes 2 by denting at least one of two spotssandwiching the axis line of each of the pipes 2 in the plane portion 33toward the pipes 2. In the present embodiment, side surfaces of thepositioning portions 31 slope so as to reduce cross-sectional area ofpositioning portions 31 toward the protruding direction. As a result,the positioning portion 31 is in the form of a cone as a whole.

In the present embodiment, the six positioning portions 31 are arrangedalong an outer edge of a triangle according to the shape of the spacer3. These positioning portions 31 position each of the pipes 2 in atleast one of two spots sandwiching the axis line of each of the pipes 2.

Moreover, in a protruding end of each of the positioning portions 31, athrough hole 39 is formed which penetrates in a thickness direction ofthe spacers 3.

The spacers 3, as shown in FIG. 2, are fixed to the pipe group by a pairof clamping members 4 and 5 and bar-like connecting members 6. Theclamping members 4 and 5 clamp the pipe group in a stacking direction ofthe pipe arrays. The connecting members 6 connect the clamping members 4and 5.

The clamping members 4 and 5 are respectively made of a plate-likemember extending in a certain direction and having through holes 42 and52. The connecting members 6 reach from the through holes 42 of the oneclamping member 4 to the through holes 52 of the other clamping member5, passing through interspaces between the adjacent pipes 2 in the pipearrays and the through holes 39 in the spacers 3 sequentially along thestacking direction of the pipe arrays. In this manner, the connectingmembers 6 connect the pair of clamping members 4 and 5.

In the present embodiment, the connecting members 6 are configured asscrew members. The tip ends of the screw members are fitted into thethrough holes 52 which are formed as screw holes in the other clampingmember 5. In this manner, connection between the clamping member 5 andthe connecting members 6 is achieved (see FIGS. 4A to 4D). Also in thepresent embodiment, the two through holes 42 and 52 are formed along alongitudinal direction of the respective clamping members 4 and 5. Theconnecting members 6 are passed through the respective through holes 42and 52.

(2) Operation and Effect

In the heat exchanger 1 constituted as such, the pipe group can be fixedby interposing the spacers 3 between the pipe arrays of the pipe group,arranging the pair of clamping members 4 and 5 to sandwich the pipegroup, and passing the connecting members 6 through the through holes 42and 52 of the clamping members 4 and 5, the through holes 39 of thespacers 3, and the interspaces of the adjacent pipes 2 in the respectivepipe arrays.

Here, each of the spacers 3 can maintain the intervals between the pipearrays by the convex portions 37 of the respective spacers 3, andposition the respective pipes 2 in the respective pipe arrays by thepositioning portions 31 which protrude from the plane portion 33. Inthis manner, the spacers 3 can maintain the intervals between therespective pipes 2.

Also, due to the slope of the side surfaces of the positioning portions31 which protrude from the plane portion 33, the spacers 3 are slightlymoved in a direction crossing the planes of the pipe arrays bytightening upon fixing the pipe group. As a result, the pipes 2 areslightly moved along the planes of the pipe arrays along sloped surfacesof the side surfaces of the positioning portions 31. The pipes 2 can befixed without backlash.

According to the above constituted spacer 3, the positioning portions 31can be easily formed by denting the plane portion 33. Thus, the spacer 3which is able to maintain the respective intervals of the pipes 2 can beeasily formed from a mere plate-like member.

In the above constituted spacer 3, a part of the through holes 39 formedin the positioning portions 31 can be used for fixing the spacer 3 andthe pipe group.

The through holes 39 which are not used for fixing the spacer 3 and thepipe group can pass fluid such as ambient air and moisture. Therefore,it is advantageous to restrict retention of the fluid.

Moreover, the positioning portions 31 are formed to protrude from thesurface side facing upward toward the surface side facing downward whenthe spacer 3 is interposed between the pipe arrays. Thus, the pipes 2can be positioned which are located below the spacer 3.

Especially in the above-described embodiment, the through holes 39 arepositioned at the lower ends of the positioning portions 31. Therefore,moisture (so-called drain) which is retained inside dents of thepositioning portions 31 can be discharged downward through the throughholes 39.

Also in the above-described spacer 3, bending strength of the spacer 3can be improved by bending part of the end portion of the spacer 3 (thebent portion 35 and the convex portion 37).

(3) Variations

In the above, an embodiment of the invention has been described. It goeswithout saying, however, that the present invention is not limited tothe above-described embodiment, and can take various modes within thetechnical scope of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the spacer 3 is appliedto the pipe group in the heat exchanger 1. As long as the same sort ofpipe group is used, the spacer 3 can be applied to a pipe group providedin apparatus other than the heat exchanger 1.

In the above-described embodiment, a fixing structure constituted fromthe spacers 3, the clamping members 4 and 5 and the connecting members 6is used for fixation of the pipe group in the heat exchanger 1. As longas the same sort of pipe group is used, the fixing structure may be usedfor fixation of a pipe group provided in apparatus other than the heatexchanger 1.

In the above-described embodiment, the positioning portion 31 of thespacer 3 is formed by denting the plane portion 33 so as to protrude inthe dented direction. The positioning portion 31 only has to protrudefrom the plane portion 33. For example, the positioning portion 31 maybe formed by a member attached to the plane portion 33 or a memberformed by cutting and raising the plane portion 33. In this case, thepositioning portion 31 is only required to protrude to such an extentthat at least part of the positioning portion 31 comes into contact withthe pipe 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the positioning portion 31 of thespacer 3 protrudes from the first surface facing upward toward thesecond surface facing downward. The positioning portion 31 may be formedto protrude from the second surface side toward the first surface side.Alternatively, the positioning portion 31 may be formed to protrude fromboth the first surface and the second surface.

In the above-described embodiment, the bent portion 35 of the spacer 3is bent in the same direction as the direction in which the positioningportion 31 protrudes. The bent portion 35 may be bent in the oppositedirection to the direction in which the positioning portion 31protrudes.

In the above-described embodiment, the convex portion 37 of the spacer 3protrudes in the opposite direction to the direction to which thepositioning portion 31 protrudes. The convex portion 37 may protrude inthe same direction as the direction to which the positioning portion 31protrudes.

In the above-described embodiment, the planar shape of the spacer 3 isformed into an almost triangle. The planar shape of the spacer 3 is notlimited to a triangle but may be a trapezoid, a rectangle or a circle.

In the above-described embodiment, the pipes 2 are shaped to helicallysurround a rectangular parallelepiped. The pipes 2 may be shaped so asto reciprocate within a predetermined space.

1. A spacer comprising: a plane portion interposed between two pipearrays stacked one another, each of the two pipe arrays being formed byarranging at least one pipe along a plane which crosses a stackingdirection of the two pipe arrays; and at least one positioning portionthat positions the at least one pipe in at least one of the two pipearrays on the plane portion.
 2. The spacer according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one positioning portion is formed to protrude from theplane portion in at least one of two spots sandwiching an axis line ofthe at least one pipe.
 3. The spacer according to claim 2, wherein theat least one positioning portion is formed by denting the plane portionfrom one surface of the plane portion toward the other surface in the atleast one spot.
 4. The spacer according to claim 3, wherein the at leastone positioning portion includes a through hole which penetrates the atleast one positioning portion.
 5. The spacer according to claim 4,wherein the plane portion is arranged between the two pipe arrays suchthat the at least one positioning portion protrudes in a direction ofgravity.
 6. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein at least part of anend portion of the spacer extending along the plane portion is bent. 7.A fixing structure comprising: at least one spacer including: a planeportion interposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another, each ofthe two pipe arrays being formed by arranging at least one pipe along aplane which crosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays; and atleast one positioning portion that positions the at least one pipe in atleast one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion; and a clampingportion that clamps the at least one spacer together with a pipe group,the pipe group including at least the two pipe arrays.
 8. The fixingstructure according to claim 7, wherein at least one positioning portionis formed to protrude from the plane portion in at least one of twospots sandwiching an axis line of the at least one pipe.
 9. The fixingstructure according to claim 8, wherein the plane portion includes atleast one through hole which penetrates at least one of the planeportion and the at least one positioning portion, in a position off theat least one pipe positioned on the plane portion by the at least onepositioning portion, and the clamping portion includes a pair ofclamping members, the at least one spacer being arranged together withthe pipe group between the pair of clamping members; and at least oneconnecting member that interconnects the pair of clamping membersthrough the at least one through hole.
 10. A heat exchanger comprising:a pipe group that is formed by at least two pipe arrays stacked oneanother, each of the at least two pipe arrays being formed by arrangingat least one heat-transfer pipe along a plane which crosses a stackingdirection of the at least two pipe arrays; and at least one spacer thatincludes a plane portion arranged between two pipe arrays in the atleast two pipe arrays and at least one positioning portion thatpositions the at least one heat-transfer pipe in at least one of the twopipe arrays on the plane portion.
 11. The heat exchanger according toclaim 10, wherein the at least one positioning portion is formed toprotrude from the plane portion in at least one of two spots sandwichingan axis line of the at least one heat-transfer pipe.
 12. The heatexchanger according to claim 10, further comprising a clamping portionthat clamps the at least one spacer together with the pipe group. 13.The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the plane portionincludes at least one through hole which penetrates at least one of theplane portion and the at least one positioning portion, in a positionoff the at least one heat-transfer pipe positioned on the plane portionby the at least one positioning portion, and the clamping portionincludes: a pair of clamping members, the at least one spacer beingarranged together with the pipe group between the pair of clampingmembers; and at least one connecting member that interconnects the pairof clamping members through the at least one through hole.
 14. The heatexchanger according to claim 10, wherein the at least one heat-transferpipe is shaped so as to surround a predetermined space.
 15. The heatexchanger according to claim 10, wherein the at least one heat-transferpipe is arranged to form a space for air passage around the at least oneheat-transfer pipe.